Doug Williams & Deion Sanders Celebrate Their Birthdays

Doug Williams: The First to Break NFL and HBCU Barriers

On Aug. 9, 1955, Doug Williams was born in Zachary, Louisiana. Coach Eddie Robinson recruited the HBCU legend to Grambling State University. He left the program as one of the greatest quarterbacks in black college football, leading the Tigers to three SWAC championships and nearly snatching a Heisman Trophy.

Doug Williams made history by becoming the first Black college quarterback to be drafted in the first round of the modern NFL draft. He was selected as the 17th overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1978 NFL Draft.

In his second season, Williams led the Buccaneers to their first NFC Championship game. Unfortunately, he tore his bicep during the game, which forced him to leave the contest, and the Buccaneers lost to the Los Angeles Rams with a score of 9-0.

Doug Williams' most remarkable football feat occurred in 1988, when Joe Gibbs committed to him as the starting quarterback for Washington throughout the playoffs.  

He became the first black quarterback to win a Super Bowl and was named Super Bowl XXII MVP. The achievement redefined the possibilities for the Black quarterback in the National Football League for generations to come.

Williams' HBCU lineage is deep.  As a player, head coach, and now advocate for Black college football players to secure professional opportunities, Williams continues the legacy instilled in him by his mentor, Coach Eddie Robinson.

Williams twice served as head coach at Grambling State, restoring the Tigers to national glory and compiling a 52-18 overall record, which included multiple SWAC titles.

Off the field, Williams co-founded the Black College Football Hall of Fame and the HBCU Legacy Bowl with fellow Grambling great and NFL pioneer, James "Shack" Harris.  

These men annually create a pipeline for hundreds of HBCU student-athletes to showcase their talents to NFL scouts. Also, hundreds of employers have hired HBCU students at the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl Career Fair in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Doug not only played and coached but also led initiatives that transformed opportunities for HBCU athletes, driven by his distinctive leadership and deep roots in Black college football.

Deion Sanders: Coach Prime Led The HBCU Sports Renaissance 

Born on Aug. 9, 1967, Deion Sanders showcased his athleticism from Florida State to NFL fame. During his impactful tenure as head coach at Jackson State University, his presence reignited national attention on HBCU sports.

As head football coach of the Jackson State Tigers from 2020 to 2022, Sanders excelled, amassing a record of 27 wins and six losses, claiming consecutive SWAC championships, and facilitating the transition of several of his players into the NFL.  

The first to be drafted was James Houston IV, also known as "The Problem." The Detroit Lions drafted him as the 217th overall pick in the 6th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Houston went on to break several NFL sack records as a rookie in 2022.

Coach Prime's real magic was corporate magnetism. Major sponsors and advertisers lined up to align with Jackson State and other HBCU brands. Dr. Kenyatta Cavil of the HBCU Sports Lab Podcast coined the phrase, "The Prime Effect." Sanders, as a head coach, made it possible for HBCUs to increase the number of televised games on broadcast networks.   

His departure from Jackson State in 2023 was a significant loss, but his influence continued to be felt. Accepting the head coach position at the University of Colorado, Sanders, along with his sons and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, transformed the struggling Buffaloes program back to winning, a testament to his coaching prowess.

Coach Sanders' impact extended beyond the football field. It emphasized the importance of knowing your value as an HBCU sports program and being willing to monetize it, allowing others to appreciate the unique cultural experience.

So here's to two HBCU legends, Deion and Doug, whose birthdays are a celebration of an entire culture. Their achievements in HBCU football and their ongoing contributions to the sport are a source of pride for us all. Happy Birthday, Deion and Doug!